Hose communication system



Dec. 22, 1959 s. HANSEN ETAL.

HOSE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 4, 1957 Mang- MDec. 22, 1959 s, HANSEN ETAL l 2,917,987

HOSE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1957 MMM Dec.22,1959 s, HANSEN EI'AL 2,917,987

HOSE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Filed Feb. 4, 1957 :5 Sheets-Sheet 3 QWWWMUnited States Patent 2,917,987 HosE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ApplicationFebruary 4, 1957, Serial No. 633,055

8 Claims. (Cl. 98-1) The present invention relates to a hosecommunication system for pressure chambers, and more particularly to ahose communication system for pressure chambers wherein a door isutilized to seal-oft" two areas of normally different pressure, the doorbeing closeable in at least two different positions to therebyselectively either include or exclude the hose and its associatedconnections from either area. l

As herein utilized, the term pressure chamber will be considered genericto both vacuum chambers and` high pressure chambers. However, forpurposes of simplicity the invention will be disclosed with reference tovacuum or low pressure chambers, it being understood thatrthe motivatingconcepts of the invention are equally applicable to high pressurechambers. Y

In the past it has been proposed that a vacuum chamv ber be constructedwhich would be capable of allowing a man to enter and work therein for aperiod of time; unfortunately, however, the construction of such afacility has posed several serious problems which were heretoforethought insurmountable, not the least of which is the fact that no gasescould be discharged within the chan-1- ber without materially decreasingthe quality of the vacuum. In the prior art, low pressure chambers large'enough to allow a man to enterl have been known, as for example, theAir Force high altitude chambers utilized for high altitude tests andindoctrination. Howeverthese chambers are maintained at pressuressuliiciently high that the waste gases produced by a mans breathing maybe discharged in the tank without affecting materially the pressuremaintained therein. Therefore, a man may stay for a period of time insuch a chamber by taking an oxygen bottle into the chamber with him anddischarging the waste gases within the chamber. It is clear, however,that this technique offers no solution to the h igh vacuum chamberproblem owing to' the fact that the gases discharged in the chamberwould for all practical purposes destroy the high vacuum.

The solution to the problem of supplying gas to a man or otherinstrumentality within a high vacuum chamber is further complicated byanother problem, namely, that the high vacuum chamber should bemaintained at a Patented Dec. 22, 1959 2 um chambervwould connect hisbreathing apparatus to the airlocks 'receptacle while it was beingexhausted, and

thereafter disconnect from the airlockV receptacle, and

reconnect to the main vacuum chambers receptacle after entering therein.Although this method appears to provide a feasible solution, it isinherently limited by the fact that even the relatively small burst ofgas which enters the chamber during the connecting and discon-v nectingof the apparatus is sufficient to destroy the quality of the vacuum.

The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problemsencountered in the prior art by providing a hose communication orby-pass system wherein a hose ispermanently affixed to an associatedreceptacle and may be selectively included in either one of two areaswhich may be sealed ofi from eachother at different pressures. Accordingto the basic concept of the invention the hose by-pass systems hereindisclosed4 include a door for sealing off the two areas of normallydiferent pressure, the door being selectively closeable in any one of aplurality of positions to thereby selectively include l or exclude thehose from either area.

high vacuum continuously, since each time the. chamber is raised toatmospheric pressure, gas is absorbed on the surface of thematerialwhich constitutes the walls of the chamber, therebynecessitating a rigorous and lengthy outgassing procedure to againprovide a high vacuum within the chamber. Accordingly the high vacuumchamber should ideally be entered through a smaller anterior or airlockchamber which may be exhausted rapidly to a pressure approximating thepressure within the main vacuum chamber.

One technique which has been offered as a solution to the foregoingproblem is to provide a hose receptacle in boththe anterior chamber andthe main chamber, each receptacle being equipped with a quick disconnectcou- More specifically, the hose by-pass systems ofthe invention includea door which is selectively closeable in'vany, one of a plurality ofpositions against a mating flange, thedoor having a concave orthree-dimensional configuration suchv that the door and a'plane takenthrough the door flange define an enclosed cavity. The hose is Ain turnaffixed to a receptacle mounted in the matingv flange so that the hosereceptacle may be included within the area defined by the door, in whichcase the hose terminates in one of the areas of differential pressure,or excluded from the area defined by the door flange, in which instancethe associated hose terminates in the other` area of differentialpressure.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the door has a rectangulartraylike configuration and is movable translationally while opento3tthereby permit closure in two cr more positions. According to stillanother embodiment of the invention, the door has a bowl-likeconfigurationA and is eccentrieally mounted to permit rotationalmovement thereof while open to thereby provide a plurality of closurepositions.,k

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a hose by-passsystem which permits a permanently connected hose or conduit to beselectively included in either one of two areas of normally differentpressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hose by-pass systemwhich includes a door for sealing off two areas of normally differentpressure, the door being selectively closeable in any one of a pluralityof positions to thereby selectively include a permanently connected hosein leither of the two areas. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a translatable doorcapable of being closed selectively in a plurality of positions toVtherebyselectively include or exclude a hose from an area on one side ofthe door.

Another object is to provide a rotatable door capable of beingselectively closed in a plurality of positions to thereby selectivelyinclude or exclude a hose from an area on one side of the door.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a rotatable doorwhereby a hose can be taken' from an area on one side of the door to anarea on the other side of the door and thereafter be able to close thedoor without disturbing the continuity of the air hose connections.

p A still further object of the invention is to provide a translatabledoorwhereby a hose can be taken from an area on one sideof the door toan area on the other sidey of the door withoutl disturbing thecontinuity of ,the-airhosevconnestivns: g f

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention, both as to its organization and method of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understoodfrom the following description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which several embodiments of the invention areillustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the vdrawings are for the purpose of illustration anddescription only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits offthe invention.

Fig. 1 is a sectional side-elevation of one form of hose by-pass system,according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation Vof the structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of another embodiment of a hose by-passsystem in accordance with the invention; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional side elevation views of theembodiment of Fig. 3 illustrating the manner in which the hose by-passsystem functions.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like or corresponding parts aredesignated by the same reference characters throughout the severalviews, there is shown in Fig. l one embodiment of a hose by-pass system,in 'accordance with the principles of the invention, wherein a door 11having a tray-like configuration is selectively closeable in either oftwo positions for selectively including or communicating a hose andreceptacle 13 in -or with either a main chamber or an anterior orairlock chamber 17. As shown in Fig. l the hose by-pass system includesan apertured wall 19 upon which hose receptacle 13 is mounted adjacentthe aperture, door 11 being moveable when open so that it may be closedin either of two positions against wall 19 to selectively include hosereceptacle 13 and hose 10 either in main chamber 15 as shown by thebroken line in Fig. l, or in airlock chamber 17 as shown by the solidline. In thisembodim'entof the hose by-pass system door 11 is moveablein a vertical translational manner when open to selectively include orexclude hose receptacle 13 and hose 19 when the door 11 is subsequentlyclosed as will hereinafter be described in detail.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown onemethod whereby door 11 may behung and yet still allow the required translational movementhereinbefore described. As shown in Fig. 2 the mounting structure ofdoor 11 includes a hinge generally designated 23 and a pulliedcounterweight 25 which functions to permit translational movement of thedoor when it is open. Hinge 23 includes a pair of hinge arms 27 and 29which are journaled overa hinge pin 31, the pin in turn being xedsecurely to wall 19 by a pair of brackets 33 and 35. Thehinge vfurtherincludes a pair of slots (not shown) cut in the hinge arms so that whendoor 11 is rotated open hinge arms 27 and 29 rotate around hinge pin 31until the slotsare aligned with three vstuds 37, 39 and 41 which areuiixedly mounted on the hinge pin. These studs normally function tosupport door 11 in yeither the solid or broken line positionsillustrated in Fig. 2, and when aligned with the slots in the hinge armspermit the door to move 1in its translational manner. In operation thedoor'is moved in its translational manner'until the hinge arms 27 and 29are just above either stu-:ls 37 and'39 or Studs 39 and 41, dependingupon whether itis desired to close the door in the position'shown by thesolid or lbroken lines in Figs. l and 2, respectively. VWhen the door isVthen closedk the hingearms will rotate in a counterclockwisedirectionaround hinge pin 31 until the slots cut in the hinge arms areno longer above the respective studs, thereby giving the door support'inits new position.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, when the door is supported in thepositionshown by the broken line, hose receptacle '13 'and .hose 10 arewithinmain chamber 15, whereas when the door is supported in theposition-shown by the solid line, hose receptacle 13 and hose 10 arewithin the airlock chamber. To positively close door 11 in the desiredposition a latch 43 is provided which may be operated from either sideof door 11. Hose 10 can thereby be taken from one chamber to the otherwithout disconnecting the hose and thereby discharging a burst of gasesinto the chamber.

It should be emphasized that the basic concept of the invention is notrestricted to the embodiment of Figs. l and 2 or to mere translationalmovement of the door. For example there is shown in Fig. 3 anotherembodiment of the invention wherein an eccentric circular door 11 havinga bowl-like shape is hinged and secured to a wall 19 by a hingegenerally designated 23. Hinge 23 in this instance includes a centerbearing 24 upon which door 11 is rotatably mounted, and a conventionalhinge element 26 which is employed for opening and closing the door. Asshown in Fig. 3, door 11 may be opened or closed Ifrom either of itssides by use of a latch 43, the door being rotatable about centerbearing 24 when open to provide a plurality of closure positions, two ofwhich are lshown in Fig. 3. When the door is rotated to the positionVshown by the broken line in Fig. 3, and then closed against wall 19,hose 10 is included in the main chamber. A fragmentary sectional sideelevation along linek4-4 of Fig. 3 when the door is in this position isshown in Fig. 4.

lAs shown in Fig. 4, in this position hose 10 is included withiny themain chamber by door 11 which is closed against ywall 19 and sealed bycircular gasket 45. When the door is rotated to the position shown bythe solid line in Fig. 3, on the other hand, hose l@ is include-:l inthe airlock chamber and excluded from the main chamber. A fragmentaryvside elevation along line 4 4 of Fig. 3 when the door is in lthisposition is shown in Fig. 5. Thus it is possible to take hose 10 fromone chamber to the other and close the door thereafter withoutdisconnecting the-hose and thereby discharging a burst of gases into thechamber.

It is to be expressly understood, of course, that numerous othermodifications and alterations may be made in the hose by-pass systemherein disclosed without departing from the basic concept of theinvention. For example, it will be recognized that a pair of hosereceptacles could be employed with the second embodiment of theinvention to selectively include either one or both of two hoses ineither the main chamber or the anterior chamber. Accordingly, it is tobe expressly understood that the scope of the invention is to be limitedonly bythe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A hose communication system for selectively introducing a hose intothe interior of either of two adjacent pressure chambers, said systemcomprising: an apertured wall separating said chambers, said wall havinga conduit therein extending from the exterior of the chambers to apreselected point on one side of said wall adjacent the aperture; meansfor connecting the hose to said conduit at the preselected pointadjacent the aperture in said wall; a door having a lateral peripherylarger than the aperture in said wall; hinge means for hingedly mountingsaid door in the chamber on said one side of said wall to close againstsaid Wall and seal shut the aperture therein, said hinge means beingadapted to permit movement of said door in the plane of said door; andmeans for moving said door in the plane of the door when said door`is-open to provide a plurality of closure positions for saiddooragainst said wall, at least a rst one of said closure positionsexcluding said preselected point from the area defined by the lateralperiphery of said door, whereby the hose communicates with the interiorof the chamber in which the door is mounted, and at least a second oneof said closure positions including said preselected point withiniithearea ydeiined by the lateral periphery of said door, =said door-having athree dimensional conguration defining a cavity therein such that theother of said chambers communicates with said preselected point whensaid door is in said second closure position, whereby the hosecommunicates with the interior of the other chamber.

2. The hose communication system defined in claim 1 wherein said door istranslationally movable in the plane of said door when open to therebyprovide said plurality of closed positions.

3. A communication system for selectively introducing a hose into theinterior of either of two adjacent pressure chambers separated by anapertured common wall, said system comprising: means forming a conduitwithin the common wall extending from the exterior of the chambers to apreselected point on one side of the wall adjacent the aperture; meansfor attaching one end of the hose to said conduit atA said preselectedpoint; a substantially circular door having a concave three dimensionalconfiguration; first means for mounting seid door to permit closurethereof against said common wall to seal the aperture therein; andbearing means for rotatably mounting said door on said first means in amanner such that a portion of the periphery of said door extendsradially from said bearing means a distance larger than the remainder ofthe periphery of sad door whereby said door can be closed against saidwall in any one of a plurality of closure positions to therebyselectively include or exclude the hose and said preselected pointwithin the area defined by the periphery of said door.

4. A hose communication system for selectively introducing a hose intothe interior of either of two pressure chambers, the hose coupling theinterior of the selected chamber with a region outside the chambers,said system comprising: an apertured wall separating said chambers, saidwall having a passageway therein extending from the exterior of thechambers to a preselected point on one side of said wall adjacent theaperture; means for coupling the hose to said passageway at saidpreselected r point, whereby the hose communicates with the regionoutside the chambers; a door located in the chamber on said one side ofsaid wall; hinge means for mounting said kdoor to close against saidwalland seal the aperturetherein, said hinge means including apparatusselectively operable to close said door against said wall j in atleastfirst and second closure positions for respectively including saidpreselected point within the area defined bytheperiphery of said door,or excluding said preselected point from the area defined by theperiphery of said door, said door having a three dimensionalconfiguration such that said door and a plane taken through itsoutermost periphery define a cavity in said door, said hosecommunicating with said one chamber when said door is closed in saidsecond closure position, and communicating with the other of saidchambers through said cavity in said door when said door is closed insaid first closure position.

5. The hose communication system defined in claim 4 wherein said doorhas a circular bowl-like configuration and which further includesbearing means for rotatably mounting said door in a manner such that aportion of the periphery of said door extends radially from said bearingmeans a distance larger than the remainder of the periphery of said doorto permit rotation thereof when open to positions which when projectedagainst said wall define said first and second closure positions.

6. The hose communication system defined in claim 4 wherein said doorhas a rectangular tray-like configurationand is translationally movablewhen open to positions which when projected against said wall definesaid first and second closure positions.

7. A hose communication system for selectively introducing a hose ineither of two pressure chambers, said system comprising: an aperturedwall separating said chambers; a door located in one of said chambers;mounting means for movably mounting said door to close against said wallselectively in at least first and second closure positions for sealingthe aperture in said wall; means for introducing the hose at a point insaid wall which is within the area defined by said door when said dooris in said first closure position and outside the area defined by saiddoor when said door is in said second closure position, said door havinga depression in the side thereof which faces the other of said twochambers when said door is closed whereby the hose communicates withsaid one chamber when said door is closed in said second closureposition, andk communicates with the other chamber when said door isclosed in said first v closure position.

8. In a pressure chamber having an adjacent air lock chamber, means forselectively introducing an air hose into the interior of either of theadjacent pressure chambers, said means comprising: an apertured wallseparating said chambers and having a conduit therein extending from theexterior of the chambers to a preselected point on a predetermined sideof said wall adjacent the aperture; means for connecting the air hose tosaid con duit at said preselected point; a three dimensionaly doorhaving a cavity therein and av lateral periphery larger than theaperture; hinge means for hingedly mounting said door-on thepredetermined side of said apertured wall to close against said wall toseal the aperture therein, said hinge means including apparatus forclosing said door against said wall in first and second closureVpositions for selectively including or excluding the preselected pointwithin the area defined by the periphery of said door, respectively,said cavity in` said door being operative when said door is in saidfirst closure postion to introduce said hose into the chamber on theside of said wall opposite said predetermined side of s'aid wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,780,384 Stratton Feb. 5, 1957

